How Nightcap to in La Crosse
Dip into a ‘Cave’
In the nether regions of a stately 19th-century chateau – a half-block from a Kwik Trip, no less – is La Cave, a speakeasy meets wine cellar meets Euro-esque hideaway. The building is known as the historic Mons Anderson House, and among the things it houses is a restaurant (Le Chateau) and this subterranean bar, accessible by a narrow, winding staircase on the ground level. This stone-walled, windowless room feels very much like a grotto, only it’s bright and warm and people are chatting over high-end cocktails and desserts that involve a torch (think crème brûlée). I can narrow down the list of 10 specialty drinks to two you must try – the Fumé Old Fashioned and the Zeus. Both are served in a smoke-rinsed glass – a process you watch happen right there at the bar. The exceptional Zeus was my favorite, the smoke delicately accenting the bourbon’s caramel notes and the hint of bitter apérol. La Cave offers a happy hour Tuesdays-Thursdays (3-6 p.m.) featuring discounts on cocktails, beers and by-the-glass wines. 410 Cass St., 608-782-6498
Watch a Mississippi Sunset
La Crosse’s western edge gracefully touches the Mississippi River, and while I spent some time driving near this mighty waterway, I didn’t get the view I wanted until I came to 4 Sisters Wine & Tapas. Its western side is all windows, though the biggest bang for your vista buck is the patio. Beyond a small area of parkland and promenade is the dark, glassy surface of Big Muddy and, if you time it right, the sun’s descent, painting swaths of color along the horizon. 4 Sisters is the kind of place for a froufrou martini, a gimlet or old fashioned. Relax, sip and watch a river barge or two slowly drift by. 100 Harborview Plaza, 608-782-8213